LSU Tigers Football: The Evolution of Les Miles

I still remember where I was when the news broke that Les Miles had been named the new head coach of LSU. Miles was being brought in to replace Nick Saban who had helped the Tigers to become a relevant program on the national level.

Prior to the arrival of Saban, the LSU football program dwelled in the land of mediocrity. Even when they had a season that the Tigers considered a success, it would had been considered a disappointment for the elite of college football. However, this was no longer an issue as the Tigers were only one season removed from winning the BCS national championship.

The next hire for Bayou Bengals was crucial. Nick Saban was the right person to build the program up from the ashes. However, they needed a much different style of coach to keep the program sustained at a high level.

LSU did not go after a coach with a resume baptized in success. Instead they chose Les Miles.

Miles had previously spent four seasons as the head coach of Oklahoma State. While the Cowboys were an improved football program under Miles, he still had an unimpressive career record of 28-21. In his final season with the Cowboys they were 7-5 and were dismantled in the Alamo Bowl 33-7 by Ohio State.

During that final season with the Cowboys, they did upset the Oklahoma Sooners who finished the season ranked no. 6—but did that warrant a promotion to LSU?

The start of Miles’ coaching career was disastrous—literally. Hurricane Katrina struck southern Louisiana just days before the Tigers home opener. As a result, their home opener against North Texas was rescheduled for later in the season.

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Because of the tragedy that struck the Tigers home state, LSU was forced to make several adjustments during the season. For example, the Tigers had to give up their week two home date against Arizona State and play the game in Tempe, AZ instead. The Tigers pulled out a nail biter 35-31.

During the second week of the season, physical and emotional fatigue finally took its toll against Tennessee. Despite a 21-0 half-time lead, the Tigers would fall 27-30 to the Volunteers. despite all the pressure and turmoil they faced during the season, Miles would rally the troops after the loss. The Tigers would not taste defeat again until the SEC championship against Georgia. LSU finished the season 11-2.

The Tigers would have another strong season in 2006 where they finished 11-2. Moreover, The following season Coach Miles would lead LSU to their second BCS national championship in five seasons. Despite his success, the critics would accuse LSU of not winning the national championship but backing into one instead.

Losses to Kentucky and Arkansas had critics proclaiming that he only won the championship because he was coaching with Saban’s recruits and had Saban still been there they would had been undefeated.

The following two seasons did not do much to silence the critics. LSU would complete those two seasons with a cumulative record of 17-9. LSU was talented but seemed to find new ways to lose games. Their schedule was difficult, but it was the losses against inferior teams that seemed to drive the fans nuts.

Is Les Miles the SEC's best coach

YesNoSecond to only SabanSubmit Votevote to see results

Is Les Miles the SEC's best coach

Yes

73.5%

No

6.5%

Second to only Saban

20.0%

Total votes: 170

Even some of the games they were winning were the result of risky but yet rewarding plays.

In 2010, however, we begin to see the evolution of Miles as a coach. He still had his moments of horrific clock management, most notably against Tennessee. However, he was learning how to channel his aggressive style. He remained aggressive but used more wisdom in his decision making.

A prime example of this was when the Tigers hosted Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. It was 4th-and-1, and Miles decided to make what was perhaps the best call of the season. Instead of the conventional wisdom to run the ball up the gut, he ran a perfectly-timed and executed reverse to DeAngelo Peterson, picking up 23 yards and leading to the go-ahead touchdown.

It was a defining moment in the career of Les Miles and the next step in his evolution as an elite college football coach.

This season, the man nick named the Mad Hatter looks more like a pure genius. In seasons past it seemed that LSU always had a minimum of one letdown game. The outcome of the game was dependent upon a risky play or pure luck.

However, this season Miles has had his team prepared to play every game. There are no letdowns for this Tigers team. They have played on the road against three teams that were ranked in the top 25. In all three games, the outcome was never in doubt.

This season, under Miles, they are not just slipping by the teams that they should beat. Instead, they are beating them by multiple touchdowns.

Each season we turn on the TV searching to find which college football players have taken the next step in their progression. However, for those who have followed LSU over the last six seasons know that he has progressed unto one of the finest coaches in America.

On November 5th, we might find out that he has now become the SEC’s finest coach.